Safety railroad-switch.



BLEACH. SAFETY RAILROAD SWITCH.

APPLICATION FILED JAN. 24, 1914.

1,133,865. Patented. Mar. 30, 1915.

2 SHEETS-SHEBT 1.

THE NORRIS PETERS Ca. PHDTG-LITHO. WASHINGTON D. c.

F. LEAGH.

SAFETY RAILROAD SWITCH.

APPLICATION FILED JAN.24, 1914.

Patented Mar. 30, 1915.

2 SHEETSSHEET 2.

lam

THE NORRIS PETERS CQ. PHOTO LITHO WASHINGTON, D.

FELIX LEAoH, or ALLENFABM, TEXAS.

SAFETY RAILROAD-SWITCH.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Mar. 30, 1915.

Application filed January 24, 1914. Serial N 0. 814,136.

To all whom it may concern F Be it known that I, ;FELIX LEAGH,' a citi- Zen of the United States residing at Allenfarm, in the county of Brazos and State of Texas, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Safety Railroad-Switches; and I do hereby declare'the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

This invention relates to railroad switches, and has for one of its objects toprovide a novel form of support for the. switch rails adapted to prevent vertical displacement thereof.

Another object is to provide means for compensating for the expansion and contraction of the rails of the main track and switch track at a point adjacent the switch.

In the accompanying drawing wherein is shown an approved and practical embodiment of the inventionFigure 1 represents a planview of the switch as applied to use. Fig. 2 represents a sectional View on the line 22 of Fig. 1. Fig. 3 represents a sectional view on the line 33 of Fig. 1. Fig. 4 represents a sectional View on-the line 4.-4. of Fig. 1. Fig. 5 represents a sectional view on the line 55 of Fig. 1.- Fig. 6 represents a sectional viw on theline 66 of Fig. 5. Fig. 7 represents a top plan view ofthe adjustable end of one of the rail sections.

. .Referringto the drawingin detail wherein similar reference numerals designate corresponding parts' throughout the several views, the numeral 1 indicates the rails of the main track, and 2 indicates the rails of the side. or. switch track, and 3 indicates the switchrails. These'rails are laid upon suitable ties 4: and the adjacent ends-of the switch rails 3 and main and switch tracks 1 and 2 are disposed upon a head tie or beam 5.

As clearly shown in Figs. 1 and 5., the ends of the rails 1 and 2 adjacent the switch rails 3 are cutaway as at 6 and fitted together so as to permit relative longitudinal adjustment thereof for compensating for the variations in the longitudinal measurement of the rails due to expansion and con traction. The webs of the cutaway portions are formed with slots 7 adapted to adjustably receive bolts 8 having suitable nuts threaded thereon.

tracks 1- and 2 adjacent the switch rails 3 are suitably secured to the head tie 5 as by a rail chair 9 extending transversely of the rails and having a series of lugs 10 engaging and clamping the bases of the .rails. The pivoted-ends of the switch rails 3 are mounted in a rail chair 11 similar to the chair 9 and having lugs 12 spaced a suflicient distance apart to permit adequate pivotal movement of these ends of the switch rails. Stops 13. are secured to the ties 4 disposed between the head tie 5 and the tie carrying the rail chair .11 for limiting the movement of the switch rails 3 as the latter are moved to open and close the switch. Guide members 14: are also secured to the tie carrying the stops 13 and are formed with inwardly and upwardly directed flanges 15 inc-losing the bases 16 of the movable rail chairs having inwardly directed lugs 17 at the opposite ends adapted to retain the rails in proper spaced relation and prevent spreading thereof. The rails 3 are securely held against the lugs 17 and prevented from collapsing by spacing bars 18, several of the guide members 14 adjacent the heads of the switch rails 3 are turned upwardly as at 19 and springs 20 are secured between said upturned ends and the adjacent portions of the adjacent switch rails 3 for normallyholding the rails 3 in closed position or in alinement with the main rails 1. A suitable switch stand 21 is mounted upon the said tie 5 in spaced relation to the switch and is provided with 'a' vertically disposed rotatable shaft or stem 22. A pulley 23 is fixed to the lower end of the stem 22 and carries aneccentric pin 24 connected with the adjacent movable rail chair 16 by a link 25. A selflocking switch lever 26 for operating the switch'is suitably attached to the stem 22 and the latter carries at its upper end a switch stand lamp 27 and target 28.

What I claim is 1. The combination with main and side tracks of a pair of switch rails, means movably supporting saidrails, means secured longitudinally on the usual ties for guiding said movable means, and means connecting said switch rails and said guiding means for normally holding the former in alinement with said main tracks. 7

'2. The combination with main and side tracks of a pair of switch rails, means movably supporting said rails, means secured longitudinally on the usual ties for preventing the vertical movement of said movablev means, an extension formed on saidlongitudinally secured means, and means interposed between said extension and said switch rail for normally holding the latter in alinement with said main tracks. 7

3. The combination with main and side tracks of a pair of switch rails, means movably supporting said rails, means secured longitudinally of the usual ties to direct the movement of said movable means at rightangles to said rails, an extension formed on said longitudinally secured means, and means connected to said extension and to one of said switch rails for normally holding the latter in alinement with said main track;

4. The combination with main and side tracks of a pair of switch rails, means movably supporting said rails, means secured longitudinally on'the usual ties for guiding said movable means, and resilient means con necting said switch rails and said guiding means for normally holding the former in alinement with said main tracks.

5. The combination with main and side tracks of a pair of switch rails, means movably supporting said rails, means secured longitudinally on theusual ties for preventing the vertical movement of said movable means, an extension formed on said longitudinally secured means, and resilient means interposed between said extension and said switch rail for normally holding the latter in alinement with said main tracks.

, 6. The combination with main and side tracks of a pair of switch rails,'means movably supporting said rails, means secured longitudinally of the usual ties to direct the movement of said movable means at right angles to said rails, an extension formed on said longitudinally secured means and resaid tracks.

8. In combination with main and siding tracks, a pair of movable switch rails, means supporting said rails and adapted to move the same, 'means limiting the horizontal movement of said rails, means secured longitudinally to the usual ties for preventing vertical movement of said supporting means,-

, an "extension formed onjsaid longitudinally secured means, and means interposed be tween said extension and said switch rail for normally holding the latter in alinement with said main tracks.

9. In combination with main and siding tracks, a pair of movable switch rails, means supporting said rails and adapted to move the same, means limiting the horizontal movement of said rails, means secured longitudinally to the usual ties for directing the movement of said supporting means at rightangles to said rails, an extension formed on said longitudinally secured l means, and means connected to said extension. andto one of said switch rails for normally holding the latter in alinement with said main tracks.

10. In combination with main and siding tracks, a pair'of movable switch rails, means supportlng said rails and adapted to move the same, means limiting the horizontal movement of said rails,'means secured longi tudinally to the usual'ties to guide saidsup porting means and resillent means connect- 7 ing said switchrails and said guiding means for normally. holding the former in alinement with sa d'maln tracks.

,11. In combination with main and siding tracks, a pair of movable switch rails, means supporting said rails and adapted to move the same, means limiting the horizontal movement of said rails, means secured longitudinally to the usual ties for preventing vertical movement ofsaid supporting means, s an extension formed on said longitudinally secured means, and resilient means interposed between said extension and said switch rail for normally holding the latterin alinement with said main tracks.

12. In the combination with main and siding tracks, a pair of movable switch rails, means supporting said rails and adapted to move the same, means limiting the horizontal movement of said rails, means secured longitudinally to theusual ties for directing the movement of said supporting means at right-angles .to said rails, an extension formed on said longitudinally secured means, andresilient means connected to said 7 extension and to one of said switch rails for normally holding the latter in alinement with said tracks.

13. The combination with a of switch rails having ties arranged therebeneath, of guide members secured longitudinally on said ties, movable rail chairs positioned in said guide members, a flanged extension formed upon said guide members, aiidresilirod ent means interposed between said flanged extension and one of said rails to normally hold the latter in a predetermined position.

14, The combination with a pair of switch rails having ties arranged therebeneath of guide members secured longitudinally to said ties, movable rail chairspositioned in said guide members, flanges formed at the extremities of said rail chairs to grip the base of each rail, flanged extensions formed upon one extremity of each of said guide members and resilient means interposed between said flanged extension and one of said rails to normally hold the latter in a predetermined position.

15. The combination with a pair of switch rails having ties arranged therebeneath of guide members secured longitudinally to said ties, movable rail chairs positioned in said guide members, flanges formed at the extremities of said rail chairs to grip the base of each rail, means also secured longitudinally of said ties for limiting the movement of said rail chairs, flanged extensions formed upon one extremity of each of said guide members and resilient means interposed between said flanged extensions and one of said rails to normally hold the latter in a predetermined position.

16. The combination with a pair of switch rails having ties arranged therebeneath of guide members secured longitudinally to said ties movable rail chairs positioned in said guide members, flanges formed at the extremities of said rail chairs to grip the base of each rail, spaced top flanges also secured longitudinally of said ties for limiting the movement of said rails, flanged extensions formed upon one extremity of each of said guide members and resilient means interposed between said flanged extensions and one of said rails to normally hold the latter in a predetermined position.

17 The combination with a pair of switch rails having ties arranged therebeneath of guide members secured longitudinally to said ties, movable rail chairs positioned in said guide members, flanges formed at the extremities of said rail chairs to strip the base of each rail, means also secured longitudinally of said ties for limiting the movement of said rail chairs, the stops on consecutive ties and to one side of each of said switch rails being alined with the main track and the oppositely disposed stops on the other side of said rails being alined with a siding track, flanged extensions formed upon one extremity of each of said guide members and resilient means interposed between said flanged extensions and one of said rails to normally hold the latter in a predetermined position.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

FELIX LEACH.

Witnesses:

T. G. GOODMAN, B. ORVIL.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Gommissiomer of Patents.

Washington, D. G. 

